Q: I am interested in working for a magazine, either as a copy editor or writer. I am currently a college junior, but the problem is that I am majoring in business administration, and my college doesn’t offer a journalism degree. Is it possible that somebody would hire me, even without any experience, and if it is possible, what is the best way to go about it?
Joe S.
A: I think it is very unlikely that anyone will hire you into a full-time magazine position if you have neither a journalism degree nor any experience.
There are just too many other candidates who have either or both of those important qualifications.
I suggest that, starting now, you start to get some journalism experience. Write or edit for a campus publication or a nearby daily or weekly. Freelance for magazines, if that’s where you’d like to work. Do not graduate without experience and expect to get any action.
As you approach magazines, remember that they seem to prefer, more than newspapers do, to use full-time staff positions for editors and get their writing from freelancers. It could be that your best route to a magazine job is an editor who has earned experience doing it while in college.
As for the business administration degree, consider which publications would like editors with that kind of academic background. Begin by looking to see which magazines they describe to in your business administration department.
It would be a shame to toss aside your only credential — a degree in business administration — in your job search.
